sw603@cam.ac.uk
Professor of Private Law; Chair of the Degree Committee
M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon)
Interests
Unjust Enrichment/Restitution; Equity/Trusts; Land Law; Commercial Law; Banking/Financial Law
Research centres and interest groups
CV / Biography
Stephen Watterson holds the position of Professor of Private Law in the Faculty of Law. He joined the Faculty of Law in 2012, having previously held the positions of Senior Lecturer in Law at the London School of Economics (2008-2012), Lecturer and later Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Bristol (2002-2008), Lecturer in Law at St John's College, Oxford (2000-2001), and Research Assistant at the Law Commission of England and Wales (1996-1998). He studied law at Oxford (BA, 1993-1996; DPhil, 1998-2002). He is an Associate Director of the Cambridge Private Law Centre and an Academic Member of the Chancery Bar Association.
Stephen has wide-ranging teaching and research interests across the field of private law, but a particular interest in the law of unjust enrichment, land law, and banking/financial law (particularly payments law).
His first book, Subrogation: Law and Practice (OUP, 2007) (with Charles Mitchell), was shortlisted for the inaugural Inner Temple Book Prize 2008. In 2010, he became one of a new team of three authors that assumed responsibility for the authorship of Goff & Jones - The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet & Maxwell, 8th ed, 2011; 9th ed, 2016; 10th edn, 2022) (with Charles Mitchell and Paul Mitchell). He has also recently edited three collections: The World of Maritime and Commercial Law (Hart, 2020) (with Charles Mitchell), New Perspectives on Land Registration - Contemporary Problems and Solutions (Hart, 2018) (with Amy Goymour and Martin Dixon), and The Global Futures of Unjust Enrichment, which has been published as the 25th anniversary volume of the Restitution Law Review, [2017] RLR.
Stephen was the Director of the Law Tripos from January 2020-October 2021. During that time, Stephen led a collaboration between the Faculty of Law and Cambridge University Press to design and develop a free, open-access online course, via the FutureLearn platform, Exploring Law: Studying Law at University. This six-module course is a major new outreach initiative, intended to help any school-aged student, regardless of background and particular university aspirations, get a taste of what it might be like studying Law at university, develop key understanding and skills, and gain confidence in deciding whether Law is the right subject for them. For more information about the course, see the Exploring Law page on the Faculty's website.
Stephen was awarded a University of Cambridge Pilkington Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2022.
Selected publications
Books
Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (with Charles Mitchell and Paul Mitchell) (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022) 10th Edition
The World of Maritime and Commercial Law (ed) (Hart Publishing, 2020)
Co-editor(s):
C Mitchell
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9781509932429
New Perspectives on Land Registration: Contemporary Problems and Solutions (with Amy Goymour and Martin Dixon) (eds) (Hart Publishing, 2018)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9781509906031
The Global Futures of Unjust Enrichment (ed) (Marenex Press, 2018)
Publisher:
Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (with Charles Mitchell and Paul Mitchell) (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016) 9th Edition
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
978-0-414-05523-0
Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (with Charles Mitchell and Paul Mitchell) (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011) 8th Edition
Publisher:
Subrogation Law and Practice (with Charles Mitchell) (Oxford University Press, 2007)
Articles
'Agents and Organisations: Attribution Rules in Unjust Enrichment Claims' [2017] RLR 255
Citation:
[2017] RLR 255
Published: Mar 2018
'Subrogation, Priority Disputes and Rectification: Mapping a Route Through the Thicket' [2016] RLR 1
Citation:
[2016] RLR 1
Published: Dec 2016
'Modelling Subrogation as an "Equitable Remedy"' (2016) 2 Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law 609 (Special Issue: Equity in the 21st Century: Problems and Perspectives)
Citation:
(2016) 2 Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law 609 (Special Issue: Equity in the 21st Century: Problems and Perspectives)
Published: Jul 2016
'Testing the Boundaries of Conversion: Account-Holders, Intangible Property and Economic Harm' [2012] LMCLQ 204
Citation:
[2012] LMCLQ 204
Published: May 2012
''Direct Transfers' in the Law of Unjust Enrichment' (2011) 64 Current Legal Problems 435
Citation:
(2011) 64 Current Legal Problems 435
Published: Nov 2011
'New Light on Contribution Between Marine Insurers?' [2005] LMCLQ 338
Citation:
[2005] LMCLQ 338
Published: Aug 2005
'An Account of Profits or Damages? The History of Orthodoxy' (2004) 24 OJLS 471
Citation:
(2004) 24 OJLS 471
Published: Oct 2004
'The Law of Damages in the 21st Century' [2004] LMCLQ 513
Citation:
[2004] LMCLQ 513
Published: Jan 2004
'Alternative and Cumulative Remedies: What is the Difference?' [2003] RLR 7
Citation:
[2003] RLR 7
Published: Jul 2003
'Consumer Sales Directive 1999/44/EC - The impact on English law' (2001) 9 ERPL 197
Citation:
(2001) 9 ERPL 197
Published: Jun 2001
Book Chapters
"Allocating the Risk of Wrongful Payments: An Historical Perspective" in J. Gardner, A. Goymour, J. O'Sullivan and S. Worthington (ed(s)), Politics, Policy and Private Law - Volume II: Contract, Commercial and Company Law (Hart Publishing, 2025), pp. 91-121
Publisher:
Pages:
91-121
ISBN 13:
9781509961016
Published Jun 2025
"Mistake" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 325-394
"Personal Remedies and Interest Awards" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 939-964
"Proprietary Remedies: General Principles" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 965-987
"Proprietary Remedies: Trusts and Liens" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 989-1012
"Proprietary Remedies: Subrogation to Extinguished Proprietary Rights" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 1013-1054
"Proprietary Remedies: Rescission and Rectification" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 1055-1076
"At the Claimant's Expense: Personal Claims" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 149-209
"At the Claimant's Expense: Proprietary Claims" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 211-243
"Lack of Consent and Want of Authority" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones on Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2022), pp. 245-324
"At the Claimant's Expense" in E. Bant, K. Barker and S. Degeling (ed(s)), Research Handbook on Unjust Enrichment and Restitution (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020)
Publisher:
Published Jul 2020
"Contextual and Conceptual Foundations of Private Law Claims Involving Cryptocurrencies" in C. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), The World of Maritime and Commercial Law (Hart Publishing, 2020), pp. 329-344
Publisher:
Pages:
329-344
ISBN 13:
9781509932429
Published Apr 2020
"The History of a Landmark: Carter v Boehm" in Y.Q. Han and G. Pynt (ed(s)), Carter v Boehm and Pre-Contractual Duties in Insurance Law: A Global Perspective after 250 Years (Hart Publishing, 2018), pp. 23-85
"Subrogation, Priority Disputes and Rectification: Mapping a Route Through the Thicket" in A. Goymour, M. Dixon and S. Watterson (ed(s)), New Perspectives on Land Registration: Contemporary Problems and Solutions (Hart Publishing, 2018), pp. 245-274
Publisher:
Pages:
245-274
ISBN 13:
9781509906031
Published Feb 2018
"A Tale of Three Promises: Setting the Scene" (with Amy Goymour) in A. Goymour, M. Dixon and S. Watterson (ed(s)), New Perspectives on Land Registration: Contemporary Problems and Solutions (Hart Publishing, 2018), pp. 277-280
Publisher:
Pages:
277-280
ISBN 13:
9781509906031
Published Feb 2018
"A Tale of Three Promises: The Title Promise" (with Amy Goymour) in A. Goymour, M. Dixon and S. Watterson (ed(s)), New Perspectives on Land Registration: Contemporary Problems and Solutions (Hart Publishing, 2018), pp. 281-312
Publisher:
Pages:
281-312
ISBN 13:
9781509906031
Published Feb 2018
"A Tale of Three Promises: The Priority Promise" (with Amy Goymour) in A. Goymour, M. Dixon and S. Watterson (ed(s)), New Perspectives on Land Registration: Contemporary Problems and Solutions (Hart Publishing, 2018), pp. 313-377
Publisher:
Pages:
313-377
ISBN 13:
9781509906031
Published Feb 2018
"A Tale of Three Promises: The Empowerment Promise" (with Amy Goymour) in A. Goymour, M. Dixon and S. Watterson (ed(s)), New Perspectives on Land Registration: Contemporary Problems and Solutions (Hart Publishing, 2018), pp. 379-409
Publisher:
Pages:
379-409
ISBN 13:
9781509906031
Published Feb 2018
"Subrogation" in G. Virgo and S. Worthington (ed(s)), Commercial Remedies: Resolving Controversies (Cambridge University Press, 2017), pp. 436-463
Publisher:
Pages:
436-463
ISBN 13:
9781107171329
Published Aug 2017
"Proprietary Remedies: General Principles" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 923-942
"Proprietary Remedies: Trusts and Liens" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 943-965
"Proprietary Remedies: Subrogation to Extinguished Proprietary Rights" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 967-1000
"Proprietary Remedies: Rescission and Rectification" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 1001-1021
"At the Claimant's Expense: Personal Claims" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 149-194
"At the Claimant's Expense: Proprietary Claims" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 195-226
"Lack of Consent and Want of Authority" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 229-305
"Mistake" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 307-371
"Personal Remedies and Interest Awards" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2016), pp. 905-922
"Gain-Based Remedies for Civil Wrongs in England and Wales" in E. Hondius and A. Janssen (ed(s)), Disgorgement of Profits - Gain-Based Remedies Throughout the World (Springer, 2015), pp. 29-69
Publisher:
Pages:
29-69
Published Aug 2015
"Mistake" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011), pp. 243-296
Publisher:
Pages:
243-296
Published Dec 2011
"Lack of Consent and Want of Authority" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011), pp. 189-242
Publisher:
Pages:
189-242
Published Dec 2011
"At the Claimant's Expense: Personal Claims" (with Charles Mitchell) in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011), pp. 137-167
Publisher:
Pages:
137-167
Published Dec 2011
"Justifying Grounds: Contracts" (with Paul Mitchell) in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011), pp. 41-77
Publisher:
Pages:
41-77
Published Dec 2011
"Proprietary Remedies: Subrogation to Extinguished Proprietary Rights" in C. Mitchell, P. Mitchell and S. Watterson (ed(s)), Goff and Jones, The Law of Unjust Enrichment (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011), pp. 837-862
Publisher:
Pages:
837-862
Published Dec 2011
"Remedies for Knowing Receipt" (with Charles Mitchell) in C. Mitchell (ed(s)), Constructive and Resulting Trusts (Hart Publishing, 2009), pp. 115-158
Publisher:
Pages:
115-158
Published May 2009
"Carter v Boehm (1766)" in C. Mitchell and P. Mitchell (ed(s)), Landmark Cases in the Law of Contract (Hart Publishing, 2008), pp. 59-118
Publisher:
Pages:
59-118
Published Aug 2008
"Premiums" in F.D. Rose (ed(s)), Marine Insurance: Law and Practice (LLP Professional Publishing, 2004), pp. 135-160
"Subrogation and Recoupment" in F.D. Rose (ed(s)), Marine Insurance: Law and Practice (LLP Professional Publishing, 2004), pp. 517-569
"Double Insurance and Contribution" in F.D. Rose (ed(s)), Marine Insurance: Law and Practice (LLP Professional Publishing, 2004), pp. 571-601
Case Notes
"Subrogation as a Remedy for Unjust Enrichment in the Supreme Court" [2016] CLJ 209
DOI:
10.1017/S0008197316000453
Published: Jul 2016
"Recovering Misapplied Corporate Assets from Remoter Recipients" [2014] CLJ 496
"Limitation of Actions, Dishonest Assistance and Knowing Receipt" [2014] CLJ 253
DOI:
10.1017/S0008197314000683
Published: Jun 2014
"Reversing Mistaken Voluntary Dispositions" [2013] CLJ 501
Published: Nov 2013
"The Oceano Grupo Case and English law" (2002) 10 ERPL 171
Published: Jan 2002
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